Foreshore & Seabed Postcard Campaign Launched
"The Government proposal to deal with the foreshore and seabed issue is nothing short of theft by decree," said Arena
spokesperson Joe Davies. He made this statement at the launch today of the Arena foreshore and seabed postcard campaign.
Arena (Action, Research & Education Network of Aotearoa) produced the postcard for people to send to the Government opposing the Crown's proposed
theft of the foreshore and seabed.
"We want to show that there are people out there -Pakeha and Maori - who don't go along with modern day colonial
robbery" said Joe Davies.
Text of postcard:
To the Prime Minister
Over the past 163 years, the Crown has used the law to take Maori land. Now, when there a suggestion that Maori rights
might be recognised you want to change the law again.
I support a just and lasting solution to this controversy.
I expect the Government to respect the inherent rights of tangata whenua over the foreshore and seabed, as affirmed in
te Tiriti o Waitangi, and strongly condemn any move to interfere with those rights.
I cannot accept any move by the NZ Government to extinguish those rights.
I also believe it is the Government's responsibility to dispel the false and divisive perception that Maori, in
demanding recognition of their rights, are seeking deny public access to the beaches.
Please reply, informing me of the Government's position on these issues.